Corona Devo 226

Does it feel like our way-of-life is being "harmed"?  

When we remember "the ways things used to be" when we were young (or even 12 months ago!) --were they like this?  

There is so much angst, anger, entitlement, worry and fear swirling around our minds and our Nation that harm is being done (within us).  Whether we choose to admit it or not, there is a storm of emotions brewing and erupting in people (and in us!).  Personal-stances are shifting and being influenced by many external factors, and yet there is an Internal Factor that can transform these emotions, these stances, and US--and His name is Jesus.

The pressure and stress that is bearing down on all of us these days was intended to harm us, but what if we shifted gears and got busy with God (and His business of saving souls!), who intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives. (Genesis 50:20).

The harmful division of political parties has become extreme.  Our Nation has always espoused political rivalry, but if we step back from our side-of-the-argument long enough to gain perspective, I think both sides can admit that the distance and disagreements have gotten unhealthy.  The enemy intended to harm us through political division, and it's happening.  

The division of churches (and people who make up the church) about mask-stances, singing out-loud and meeting in person are tangent ideas intended to harm us, and it is working.

Covid opinions, protocol, and beliefs vary from person to person, and when someone's comfort level is not the same as ours, there is distance in the relationship, and I am not talking about 6 feet.  We feel separated from others who view things differently.

And is it me or are there more and more things separating us from others?    

You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives.  ~Genesis 50:20

This is a call to arms, Brothers and Sisters in Christ!  There are a lot of things "going wrong" in our world, but that creates the best environment for revealing what is RIGHT in our world.  People need Jesus now more than ever!  God's message of love and forgiveness can be especially soothing to people who are feeling alienated and misunderstood (and maybe that is us!).

The enemy of our souls: Satan, intended (all this political mess and health catastrophe) to harm (us), but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives.  ~Genesis 50:20

As I visited with a friend the other day, she shared hurt in her heart concerning division in their church surrounding Covid stances and also family detachment relating to differing political beliefs.  Can you relate?    

But louder than the clanging of church arguments and cancelled family plans was the pounding of her heart for Jesus.  She vulnerably shared that all day her mind repeatedy digresses to the problems of the world (You intended to harm me...) but the Lord keeps reminding her to "put blinders on" and to keep her eyes on Him because so many are lost and are choosing to wander from Christ right now.  Jesus needs us to accomplish for His glory right now!  

God’s whisper to her about “putting blinders on” is a call to us as believers as well.  "Blinders" does not mean we pretend there is no unrest or hardship around us, but instead we become determined and guarded against allowing the distractions to impede our progress toward bringing God’s light and love to those affected by the “yuck”.  (...but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives.  ~Genesis 50:20)

People need Jesus now more than ever!  I need Jesus now more than ever!  

My friend said she could feel a burning in her chest for those that are choosing to turn away from church and the Lord right now.  We can be conductors/catalysts/connectors for returning people to Christ.  If we can't feel that churning/burning within our hearts, then we need to check our pulse-for-Christ!  Time is absolutely of the essence!  I must believe we can all feel the unrest, the moral decay, the seeking-for-something-more in our society and perhaps in ourselves.  Jesus fills that gap and will overflow our hearts with His “more”. 

The answer to our Covid/political/family/you-name-it/ issues is not to continue proceeding in anger, entitlement and closed-mindedness.  Those reactions are harming us (You intended to harm me).  But what if today we react to the Jesus flame (or flicker) in our hearts and actively love others like Jesus loves them.  Opening the door to communication and dialogue, which can only lead to understanding and common ground, and then we can lead them to Jesus. What if what we “see” as current “harm” in our world is actually the environment that God is using to accomplish “good”?   but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives.

There are a lot of things "going wrong" in our world, but that creates the best environment for revealing what is RIGHT in our world.  God's message of love and forgiveness can be especially soothing to people who are feeling alienated and misunderstood.  Let’s get busy!

You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives.  ~Genesis 50:20

Blessings,

sarah

https://sarahsundy04.blogspot.com